TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police ahve arrested a 25-year-old yakuza member for allegedly kidnapping a woman from the Kabukicho red-light district of Shinjuku Ward last year.
According to police, Teruto Yamao, a member of a group affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai crime syndicate, intended to traffic her overseas to work at a fraud base overseas or sell her organs to clear her host club debts, reports the Sankei Shimbun (May 26).
Yamao was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping for the purpose of transporting a person out of the country, investigative sources revealed on Tuesday.
Between late June and early July, Yamao and his accomplices allegedly held the victim, a resident of Chiba Prefecture in her 20s, captive under guard at an internet cafe.
Police did not reveal whether the suspect admits to the allegations.
“Toyoko”
During her confinement, Yamao reportedly threatened the woman. He demanded, “You, go to Cambodia.” He added, “Go to Singapore and sell your organs.”
According to investigators, Yamao met the victim through a mutual acquaintance. The woman was known to frequent the so-called “Toyoko” area. Located beside the Shinjuku Toho Building, it is an infamous as a gathering spot for troubled and runaway youths.
Yamao allegedly told her that he had paid approximately 3.5 million yen of her nightlife debt for her. Using this as leverage, he threatened her. He said,”I’m covering your host club tabs, so go overseas to pay off your debt.”
Trafficked to Cambodia
Police believe Yamao’s primary goal was to traffic the woman to a clandestine base in Cambodia to work in a ring specializing in tokushu sagi (specialized fraud).
In such a ring, members pose on the telephone as police officers or other persons in authority to swindle victims. In this case, she was to serve as a kakeko (caller).
However, the plot ultimately failed because the victim was unable to complete the necessary passport procedures, and she was never sent abroad.
The arrest follows an investigation launched late last year after police received a tip-off that young people hanging around the Toyoko area were being trafficked to Cambodia to work as scam callers.
Authorities suspect Yamao may have sent multiple individuals to Southeast Asia to fuel the fraud ring and are currently investigating the full scope of the syndicate’s operations.
